Role of ALDP (ABCD1) and mitochondria in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

M. C. McGuinness, J. F. Lu, H. P. Zhang, G. X. Dong, A. K. Heinzer, P. A. Watkins, J. Powers, K. D. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

102 Scopus citations

Abstract

Peroxisomal disorders have been associated with malfunction of peroxisomal metabolic pathways, but the pathogenesis of these disorders is largely unknown. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is associated with elevated levels of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA; C>22:0) that have been attributed to reduced peroxisomal VLCFA β-oxidation activity. Previously, our laboratory and others have reported elevated VLCFA levels and reduced peroxisomal VLCFA β-oxidation in human and mouse X-ALD fibroblasts. In this study, we found normal levels of peroxisomal VLCFA β-oxidation in tissues from ALD mice with elevated VLCFA levels. Treatment of ALD mice with pharmacological agents resulted in decreased VLCFA levels without a change in VLCFA β-oxidation activity. These data indicate that ALDP does not determine the rate of VLCFA β-oxidation and that VLCFA levels are not determined by the rate of VLCFA β-oxidation. The rate of peroxisomal VLCFA β-oxidation in human and mouse fibroblasts in vitro is affected by the rate of mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation. We hypothesize that ALDP facilitates the interaction between peroxisomes and mitochondria, resulting, when ALDP is deficient in X-ALD, in increased VLCFA accumulation despite normal peroxisomal VLCFA β-oxidation in ALD mouse tissues. In support of this hypothesis, mitochondrial structural abnormalities were observed in adrenal cortical cells of ALD mice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)744-753
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular and cellular biology
Volume23
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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